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AZTALK: Do Corporation Commissioners act independently?

Yes. The commissioners vote independently after hearings and consultation with their staffs and other commissioners. Every commissioner, like everyone else who serves in government or business, has conflicts of interest.

Yes. The commissioners vote independently after hearings and consultation with their staffs and other commissioners. Every commissioner, like everyone else who serves in government or business, has conflicts of interest. There is nothing wrong with that as long as the government official does not act or vote in a manner other than for the best interests of the people.

Boe James

Community Enthusiast

Fountain Hills

No. The public’s perception during the 2014 Corporate Commission elections was that commissioners were being “bought and paid for” by the companies being regulated. True or not, no real investigation was done. And now there is another commissioner who appears to have a conflict of interest. Basically this is another blow to the Commission’s credibility.

Suzanne Tveit

Retired business consultant

Phoenix

No. In the 1860s, a U.S. senator named Simon Cameron said, “An honest politician is one who, once bought, stays bought.” The five Republicans on the Corporation Commission are staying true to the dark-money brokers who purchased their services fair and square. They’ll vote the way they’re told and resist any effort to uncover those who are pulling their strings.

Steve Meissner

Semi-retired bureaucrat

Phoenix

Hopefully. While allegations continue to swirl around the independence of the Corporation Commission, there is no hardcore proof of malfeasance. The Citizens United ruling cast shadows on dark money spent on behalf of several commissioners. The most effective tactic to circumvent potentially illegal conduct is complete transparency.